Black Star, a season of film, TV and special events which celebrates black screen talent, is bringing back some cult classics to BFI this December.
COMING TO AMERICA
On Monday 5th & Sunday 11th December you can catch Eddie Murphy in the comedy ‘Coming to America’
Laughs come thick and fast in this fabulous culture-clash comedy, starring Murphy and Arsenio Hall as African gentry stranded on the mean streets of Queens. In addition to their main parts, the pair take inspiration from Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts and Coronets, flexing their comic talents to embody a bewildering array of eccentric minor characters.
Get Tickets HERE
DESMOND’S: FRENCH LESSONS
On Sunday 11th December you can enjoy a classic throwback to the first episode of Channel 4’s much-loved comedy series set in a Peckham barbershop
Set in a bustling Peckham barber’s shop, Desmond’s was (and remains) the perfect sitcom, with memorable, warmly relatable characters, snappy writing and a fierce sense of place. For many years it was Channel 4’s longest-running sitcom (1989-94) – you can relive the moment it all began by enjoying its first ever episode, a fine, moving showcase for Beaton and Munroe.
Desmond’s burst on to our screens like a breath of fresh air in 1989: never before on UK TV had a prime-time sitcom been created by a black acreenwriter or featured a black-led ensemble. Its joyously funny characters have lived on in the imagination, with the show currently experiencing a popular renaissance on London Live. This afternoon we’re proud to reunite much of the amazing cast with creator-writer Trix Worell.
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A CONVERSATION WITH LENNY HENRY
On Tuesday 13th December you can hear actor-writer-comedian Sir Lenny Henry discussing his career in depth.
He started out as a young stand-up, starred in Britain’s first all-black sitcom, The Fosters, the award-winning sketch show Three of A Kind, his own long-running series The Lenny Henry Show, and the sitcom Chef! Behind the screen, he was Chairman of Crucial Films for seven years, providing a diverse range of content for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
Get Tickets HERE